04/27/2026
The conflicts and troubles in which we are most uncertain will all be won by our Lord because He is great beyond measure. How patient and faithful are we in His victory? Are we waiting in total confidence for Him to act? When those around us are challenging our patience in God we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands, and to abandon our assurance in His promise. However, in such times I look to scripture and hold tight to it… you should too.
“Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame."”
Isaiah 49:23 ESV
The unbelieving heathens who confront us take pleasure in their taunting, or claiming victory, while we are waiting on God to act on our behalf. They attempt to shame us in our faith, and use such situations as their tool to undo us. Yet in our waiting we are strengthened, and our faith is bolstered even more as our patience is rewarded. The kings and queens of chaos who have attempted to rule over us will be defeated.
“O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”
Psalms 25:2-5 ESV
When you are a man or woman of faith those around you are inclined to be jealous of your joy and the peace you exhibit in the Lord. Then, as they see their own life and the turmoil and frustration it brings them, they become embittered by how at ease you are in God, and the rest you find in Jesus Christ. It is in this envy that they foster hatred, and attempt to use your love for others, and your assurance of every good outcome, against you. In the midst of this ungodly attack it is hard for us to wait, but that is exactly what our faith demands...
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
Isaiah 30:18 ESV
Yes, it is hard for us to be patient and wait because our human nature is not inclined to behave this way. We like immediate gratification… Why else do we think our society today has become as it is... a throw away culture, a people desiring instant answers, selfish generations that rush to build buildings in a couple of years instead of centuries.... all of our structures are designed to last decades and not thousands of years, while our friendships and marriages are no better. We live and build for ourselves alone, with little thought of our children and those who follow us. This is the way of the serpent in the garden; this is the way of he who is in the earth. This unrelenting desire for immediate reward is what our enemies use against us and our faith.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”
Psalms 37:7-9 ESV
Friends, let’s wait on the Lord, and place our confidence in Him... even if we find ourselves waiting our entire lives on Him. Waiting is not stopping and sitting under a tree... waiting is a journey full of promise and lessons. Waiting is continuing on with life knowing that God will live up to His Word. I look at Pentecost and find great encouragement and instruction in waiting. Jesus told his disciples to go back to Jerusalem and wait...
“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."”
Acts 1:4-5 ESV
This sounds like they are meant to just hang around and do nothing while they wait, but is that really what they did? No, they encouraged one another, and joined together in prayer... they were actively strengthening their faith and encouraging God to send what Jesus had told them would come.
“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”
Acts 1:14 ESV
I have often wondered what they thought was about to happen. Did they have a clue what being baptized in the Holy Spirit really meant? Did they think that they would merely be surrounded by light and hear God speak or did they think, as Peter did, that they would simply be told what was to come?
“"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”
Acts 1:16 ESV
I imagine they were very surprised when their time of waiting had come to an end and the Holy Spirit came to them with such amazing power...
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:1-4 ESV
When we wait, as we are instructed to do, we are often surprised by what happens too. Sometimes the answer we are expecting is much larger than we dreamed by arriving in tongues of fire instead of the simple raise in salary we had asked God for, or maybe the removal of an organ when we prayed for God to heal a cancer. However, when the answers to our prayers, or the arrival of God’s promise comes, we realize that the waiting is what has increased our faith, and given us strength during our time of hardship and suffering. So, as we wait our life continues, and we continue on with expectation as we wait. Waiting is a journey of faith.
Do we wait? How do we wait? Does our faith continue growing as we walk along with Jesus? Are our prayers offered in encouragement, obedience, and assurance as we continue to make our pilgrimage, waiting on our Heavenly Father to answer our prayers? Waiting isn’t doing nothing... it is actively seeking God as we patiently wait, and maintaining absolute faith as we wonder how He will answer us.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the journey of faith I am on, and the times when I wait for your answer to my prayers, and needs. Thank you Holy Father for the example that Pentecost provides to me of obedient waiting, and of continued prayer. Your provisions and responses to my prayers often come in surprising forms Lord, but as I wait on them my faith gathers strength in anticipation of your promise... regardless of whether it is a quiet whisper, or boldly in tongues of fire, your answer amazes me. Merciful Father, I am often confronted by those who would do me harm because of my faith in you and Jesus Christ... help me to wait through those times of suffering, and know that the day is coming when I will be lifted up and given victory in my faithfulness. In the times when my enemies take pleasure in their dominance of me, remind me that this moment is fleeting, and that rescue is on the horizon, for I am the child of the Great King! You defeat my adversaries Lord, and the glory in those moments rushes over me in loud praise and worship as I lift you up. No matter my hardship or the pain I endure as I walk along this road, I have faith in your salvation, and confidence in your ability to strengthen and provide for me. You are faithful always, and Holy beyond measure. Your right arm is strong, and nothing can stand up against you... you are my champion, and my strong tower. Praised be your name, and wonderful are you upon whom I wait.
“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:30-31 ESV
All Praise and Honor be to you my God…
Amen!
Rich Forbes